Disney+ Price Hikes Amid Quality Decline
Relax in your swivel chair and brace yourself for some “premium” streaming news. Disney, home to beloved Marvel and Star Wars characters, has decided to increase your Disney+ subscription price. This marks the fourth price hike since the streaming platform’s launch in 2019.
But Disney isn’t stopping there. Your Hulu and ESPN+ subscriptions? Those are going up too.
The New Pricing Structure
Here’s the breakdown:
- Disney+ with ads goes up by $2, now costing $9.99 per month.
- Disney+ without ads increases by $2, bringing the total to $15.99 monthly.
- Hulu’s ad-supported plan rises by $2, now priced at $9.99 per month.
- Hulu’s ad-free option will now cost $18.99 per month, an increase of $1.
- Disney+ and Hulu combo (with ads) is set at $10.99 per month.
- Ad-free Disney+ and Hulu combo remains steady at $19.99 per month.
- Hulu with Live TV and Disney+ (with ads) increases by $6, costing $82.99 monthly.
- Same package without ads is also up by $6, now at $95.99 per month.
- ESPN+ subscription goes up by $1, now $11.99 monthly.
- Basic Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ plan rises by $2, costing $16.99 per month.
- Premium bundle increases by $2, now priced at $26.99 monthly.
These price hikes take effect on October 17th. Meanwhile, Disney introduces a new Disney+, Hulu, and Max streaming bundle costing $16.99/month with ads or $29.99/month without.
Disney+ Dives into Continuous Playlists
From September 4, Disney+ adds continuous playlists to its core subscription services in the US. ABC News Live and a preschool-focused playlist will kick off the offerings, with more curated playlists to follow.
Alisa Bowen, President of Disney+, sees playlists as part of their ongoing commitment to enhancing subscriber value. These playlists promise a blend of live and on-demand content, aiming to provide a lean-back viewing experience.
Leading up to the 2024 Presidential Election, Disney+ subscribers will access ABC News Live, offering live newscasts, breaking news, and special reports.
For kids, there’s a preschool content playlist featuring shows like Sofia the First, The Lion Guard, and Puppy Dog Pals.
Premium subscribers, starting this fall, can look forward to four additional curated playlists, refreshed monthly:
- Seasonal Content: A collection of themed content from across Disney+.
- Epic Stories: Action-packed tales from Disney, Marvel, and Star Wars.
- Throwbacks: Nostalgic pop culture content.
- Real Life: Documentaries, biopics, and true stories.
The Bottom Line
More expensive subscriptions, justified by new features. Disney argues the value increase comes with added content. But as prices climb, Disney+ must prove its worth, especially given recent quality concerns.
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